Play@YSDC

For discussing your thoughts on the story, your player characters, your rolls, and the number 42.

Re: Aine's stowaway

I like the concept, very much. Especially as this will be a character who has not been "chipped" and is a much more free agent.

The Roma idea is interesting. I am trying to get a grip on why they would stowaway. I wonder if the character has had strange dreams of the old "Non-Euclidian Archtiecture" on Titan, and has had some compulsion to seek them out. Just a suggestion, other idea's would work.

Would be interesting to think about what the colonists (there are only 8 so far) actually think of a rogue factor like a stowaway. Probably leniently but cautiously. Thoughts welcome. We could kick of the thread with being discovered on the latest unmanned supply drop. Again, your thoughts?

I ran out of time, so I couldn't rebuild my character yet. I hope to do so over the next few days.

You might want to check out my own sci-fi scenario, The Ninth Planet (there's a link in my signature). It was set on Pluto in 2112. Aine was a player in that one.

Re Ninth Planet: And I still don't trust mushrooms!

I have my character ready to load up. Where shall I put him? I think, perhaps, some unscrupulous dock hands drugged him and dumped him in a stasis-crate bound for Titan to get him off their own base. He's going to be very cold and mightily pissed off, plus he had some rather uncomfortable dreams on the way over...

Also, he has a high SAN but do you think this will have worn down over years of rough living as he's basically a tramp:



Background: Forty years old, Seth Hazard looks a fair bit older. He's had a hard life, more of a survival really, he's one of the Roma, a loosely connected tribe of space wanderers, homeless nomads who eek out an existence on board ships and spaceports that they manage to get into, doing odd jobs, often menial or distasteful in return for temporary board and sustenance.
No one likes them around as they are reputed to be shifty and untrustworthy. However, it is best not to make an enemy of one because then you find all sorts of little things going wrong, missing or malfunctioning; best just to put up with the scoundrel, give him some work and food and then one day he'll be gone, as mysteriously as he arrived.
Seth has a natural talent for electronics and computer science; this makes him very good at getting into places he shouldn't. He has plenty of experience of the realities of deep space, can find his way round almost every model of ship and installation, he's visited most of them, and can turn his hand to most kinds of work. A life in space has stunted his growth somewhat; he is very slight, undernourished but he has a wiry strength and indefatigable constitution; he has learnt to thrive on not a lot. He's a canny fellow, can see which way the wind is blowing and has no illusions how others view him.

I love the idea that he was ejected into space by the last space station he pissed off! "Send him to Titan, boys!"

For the purposes of the setting I would like to keep this from being too "far future" sci-fi. So whilst you can expect Mars and Venus and the Moon to have well established colonies / bases, and there to be a far few large space stations around the inner planets; there is no FTL travel and colonies on the outer planets are recent / rare.

[Yuggoth / Pluto of course will be a special case...nobody has been able to land there???]

So perhaps he was a space tramp on the moon, or in one of the great orbital space stations around Earth.

Great photo by the way, I can very much dig this guy! I would put the draft character in this thread just so we can all check him over (without being too anal about it), and then Ill create a thread for the finished product, if that suits?

Here's his summary of skills etc:

Seth Hazard

Characteristics:
STR: 13
CON: 14
SIZ: 9
DEX: 17
APP: 9
INT: 16 (idea 80)
POW: 16 (Luck - 80)
EDU: 14+2=16 (Know - 80) [includes +2 from age]

Sanity: 80-1-=70
Maximum Sanity: 99
Hit Points: 12
Magic Points: 16
Damage Bonus: 0

Computer use (20%): 50%
Conceal (15%): 25%
Craft tools(05%): 35%
Credit Rating (15%):
Dodge (DEX x 2%): 34%
Drive ATV (20%): 40%
Electrical/mechanical Repair (10%): 50%
Electronics (01%): 51%
Fast Talk (05%): 25%
First Aid (30%): 40%
Hide (10%): 50%
Jump (25%): 35%
Listen (25%): 35%
Operate Heavy Machinery (01%): 31%
Own Language: English (EDU x 5%): 80%
Persuade (15%): 35%
Pilot T-Prop(01%): 41%
Psychology (05%): 35%
Sneak (10%): 50%
Spot Hidden (25%):
Scanning (20%):
Sub-Light Piloting (20%):
knife: (25%): 55%
Pistol (30%) 50%


Clothes. Boots. Thermal suit. Shiny Medallion, Concealed Nasty Fighting Knife, and powerful lipstick torch

Great stuff. Like the Small SIZ.

Mechanically, I note a few things: I don't think we will be using the fabricator skill (more a case of using science and repair skills, or craft if its something specific). Locksmith fits, but not sure if there will be any mechanical locks around! Pistol skill is I think technically "Plasma Pistol?"

Also it looks like you have overspent on skills, although I am not sure about this. Feel free to adjust your skills or have another point or two in EDU to compensate. You might wish to consider (if shaving points), if he is new to Titan, how he learned to pilot the customised craft ("T-Prop") as Titan is pretty unique in the solar system (Low gravity, dense atmosphere). I guess if he is a natural and knows how to fly earth helicopters he could justify some skill in it? (your call).

As for equpiment, You can assume that Clothes boots. Multitools and Exosuits are available! A multitool includes a torch, but I guess Seth might have a small powerful custom torch (like a lipstick sized thing) given he likes sliding around in access and ventilation tunnels. As for Knife, I would suggest saying something like "Concealed shank" or "Hidden Pen Knife", effectively a small knife 1d4+db damage - although if you meant he carries around a more nasty / large fighthing knife- that is possible although such a thing would probably be confiscated under lock and key on the base (until it becomes apparent that there are nasty things crawling around in the ventilation ducts, in which case everyone will want his knife...) Also the multitool can be used as a small knife (that said, having an extra hidden shank in your belt or boot probably fits this guy...). Not sure what a survival bar or the medallion is? (although a medallion could be a handy garrotte? )

Feel free to lower sanity or add in a nuerosis / phobia as you see fit. He sounds like a robust strong willed guy justifying high POW, but as you say, his recent experiences may have ground him down a little? (5-10 SAN loss maybe?)

Thoughts?

Good spot! I'd doubled up on the extra age points so I have shaved various skills. I've given him skills that he's acquired over the years working in various facilities, I didn't realise the T-prop was specific to Titan, thought it was a futuristic helicopter and he has used these crop spraying for a few years - he might be able to adapt with a penalty or time spent reading the manual? I've changed fabrication to craft...um...tools?? He has a small fighting knife because he's often in less than salubrious places. Survival bar is food and the medallion could be! I've taken 10 off SAN for general wear and tear.

Craft tools works for me; I presume this means he can build hand held tools and the like?

the T Prop thing - I wouldn't worry about it unduly. My logic was that Titan is so unique for air flight (low gravity, thick atmosphere) that helicopters would be customised to that environment. For the purposes of the game however, its rather irrelevant as you won't be going back to earth or Venus and picking up a different model! It would be entirely reasonable to have some Pilot T-Prop skill based on the fluff that he knows how to pilot a regular helicopter and has a knack for improvisation and low gravity.

Only other technical issues I can see is that Computer Use has a base skill of 01%, and for some reason I still add up as overspent on skills but again, thats easily remidied if you wish.

I would suggest updating Euqipment to: Shiny Medallion, Concealed Nasty Fighting Knife, and Headband torch (or something)? You can pretty much assume that multi tools, food packets, and Exosuits are freely available (for neatness sake keeping it to the stuff he always carries that is "unique" to him?) Again, your call.

Hey guys!

Here's my character sheet for Hattie Barton, the colony's biologist. Hattie runs the fungal growth lab to produce food for the colony. She also privately cultivates unauthorized specimens for recreational use and has developed a bit of a reputation in the colony as a result. I will flesh the character out a bit more when I have the time.

Character Name: Hattie Barton
Age: 28
Mission Role: Biologist(Mycology)
Mission Time: 6 Months

Characteristics:
STR: 9
CON: 12
SIZ: 9
DEX: 15
APP: 15
INT: 17 (idea 85)
POW: 15 (Luck - 75)
EDU: 16

Sanity: 75
Maximum Sanity: 99
Hit Points: 11
Magic Points: 15
Damage Bonus: 0

Astronomy (01%):01%
Biology(01%): 61%
Chemistry(01%): 41%
Computer use (20%): 45%
Communications(20%): 20%
Conceal (15%): 15%
Dodge (DEX x 2%): 30%
Drive ATV (20%): 20%
Electrical/mechanical Repair (10%): 10%
Electronics (01%): 36%
Fast Talk (05%): 35%
First Aid (30%): 30%
Hide (10%): 35%
Jump (25%): 25%
Listen (25%): 40%
Library Usage (25%) 45%
Operate Heavy Machinery (01%): 01%
Own Language: English (EDU x 5%): 85%
Persuade (15%): 15%
Pharmacy (01%): 61%
Pilot T-Prop(01%): 01%
Psychology (05%): 05%
Sneak (10%): 10%
Spot Hidden (25%): 35%
Scanning (20%): 20%
Hand-to-Hand:
knife: (25%): 25%
Plasma Pistol (30%) 30%

Welcome aboard.

Hattie looks like a funky character, I like the illegal drugs she is cultivating. Feel free to expand on that; perhaps she has some superpowerful sedative she uses or a hallucinogen or something. Feel free to cut her SAN a bit from its usage (if you feel it is appropriate)

The only issues I can see is essentially there is a considerable underspend on skills (from INTx10 general interest and EDUx20 occupation)?

Also, I have computer use down as a base 1% from 6th Ed; is it 20%?

Oh, I think I just multiplied EDU by 10 instead of 20. I will make the adjustment when I get home. I think you're also correct about the computer usage role although it really doesn't make any sense in the context of the setting. I can't imagine that there are many people, let alone astronauts, who wouldn't have even a basic understanding of computers at this point.

Wumpus wrote:Oh, I think I just multiplied EDU by 10 instead of 20. I will make the adjustment when I get home. I think you're also correct about the computer usage role although it really doesn't make any sense in the context of the setting. I can't imagine that there are many people, let alone astronauts, who wouldn't have even a basic understanding of computers at this point.

Its a fair point. My understanding of "Computer Usage" skill from the rule book is that everyone can use a computer, but this skill is specifically for programming or hacking - which I guess is more of a specialist skill?

Anyway it all looks cool to me the major thing to riff on is secret fungus cultivation, so anything you can elucidate on that for the purposes of fun role play would be great!

You're right about Computer Use. It's for coding/hacking, not for normal everyday use.

I should be able to get my character up this weekend.

Ok I've edited Seth Hazard above. Sorry about the figures, comes from doing it on various backs of envelopes and changing my mind on skills. I'll add photo and other base skills to the final sheet.

aine wrote:Ok I've edited Seth Hazard above. Sorry about the figures, comes from doing it on various backs of envelopes and changing my mind on skills. I'll add photo and other base skills to the final sheet.

Cheers - it still adds up overspent to me? Don't want to get to bogged down but if you could give it the once over again maybe? The only other things I note is that Computer Use is base 1% (see above?). My only other suggestion is that this guy looks like he should have a very high Fast Talk , unless you would like to play him as a sneaky devil who gets tongue tied ("I was just stealing some..ahh...I mean...I was just borrowing...")_

Character creation rolls (STR, CON, POW, DEX, APP, SIZ, INT, EDU) (3d6=14, 3d6=15, 3d6=13, 3d6=12, 3d6=9, 2d6+6=14, 2d6+6=9, 3d6+3=14)

Name: Samantha Golightly
Age: 30
Sex: Female
Occupation: Engineer
Current Residence: Titan Colony



Characteristics:
STR: 14
CON: 15
SIZ: 14
DEX: 12
APP: 9
INT: 15 (Idea - 75)
POW: 13 (Luck - 65)
EDU: 15 (Know - 75) [includes +1 from age]

Sanity: 65
Maximum Sanity: 99
Hit Points: 15
Magic Points: 13
Damage Bonus: +1D4

Background: Samantha Golightly is a tall, muscular woman with short red hair. She has always been shy and lacking in social skills, but she makes up for that with courage, a thirst for discovery, and obsession with her chosen profession. She is a skilled engineer, and she jumped at the chance to travel to Titan and explore a new world. She came with the most recent batch of new arrivals after undergoing extensive training for the mission.

Skills: (Non-default skills BOLD, Professional Skills ITALICS, Hobbies preceded by a DOT)
Accounting (10%):
Anthropology (01%):
Archaeology (01%):
Art (05%):
Astronomy (01%):
Bargain (05%):
Biology (01%):
Chemistry (01%): 26%
Climb (40%):
.Communications (20%): 55%
Computer Use (01%):
Conceal (15%):
Craft (05%):
Credit Rating (15%):
Cthulhu Mythos (00%):
Disguise (01%):
Dodge (DEX x 2%): 24%
.Drive ATV (20%): 45%
Electronics (01%): 51%
Fast Talk (05%):
First Aid (30%):
Geology (01%): 41%
Hide (10%):
History (20%):
.Jump (25%): 55%
Law (05%):
Library Use (25%): 50%
Listen (25%):
Locksmith (01%):
Medicine (20%):
Natural History (10%):
Navigate (10%):
Occult (05%):
Operate Heavy Machine (01%): 51%
Other Language (01%):
Own Language: English (EDU x 5%): 75%
Persuade (15%):
Pharmacy (01%):
Photography (10%):
Physics (01%): 41%
Pilot T-Prop (01%):
Pilot Starship (01%):
Psychotherapy (01%):
Psychology (05%):
Repair (20%): 60%
Ride (05%):
Scanning (20%): 50%
Sneak (10%):
.Spot Hidden (25%): 55%
Swim (25%):
Throw (25%):
Track (10%):

Hand-to-Hand:
Fist/Punch (50%):
Grapple (25%):
Head Butt (10%):
Kick (25%):
Knife (25%):

Firearms:
Machine Gun (15%):
.Plasma Pistol (30%): 60%
Rifle (25%):
Shotgun (30%):
SMG (15%):

Equipment:
Multiscanner
Multitool
St. Chistropher medallion
Weight set (in her quarters)

This all adds up perfectly to me!

My only request is could you add mission time at the top (I presume its something like a week or a month as she is in new arrivals?)

Ill put up Player CHaracter thread.

Wumpus / Aine, your characters are nearly ready? just a few outstanding points as above; I don't want to get to bogged down to much in character creation of course. Let me know what you want.

Mr Handy wrote: I realized that I wouldn't have been able to bring a weight set to Titan. Anything massive enough to provide a decent workout in Titan's low gravity would have been too much to add to the ship. I'll just change that to unspecified exercise equipment.

Quite right! Weight is at a premium for space travel. I would add that the base recreation/common rooms will have some exercise equipment - I would guess resistance stuff using rubber bands or springs (very effective if you know how). Of course she could have her own stuff too.

Ooops accidentally edit rather than quote of your post MrHandy, I am sorry. STill, it is preserved!

A few outstanding Issues:

Hattie: Medicine base is, I think 05%, and taking this into account Hattie is 5% overspent, technically. I'm happy to waive this if you wish. I would prefer to say Hattie has a base SAN of 50 or 70 or something in between, and then have her face SAN checks if she stops her medication (whatever the type of med you have developed is?)

I would think a cool thing is something like "Omni-calm", which is addictive but might be used to administer to people when they are temprariliy insane (with a pharmacy roll). Your thoughts?

As for Bipolar disorder; this is cool. I don't know how familiar you are with the disease. Basically you are fine most of the time, but will, every so often have an episode of depression or mania (or sometimes both, called "Mixed affective state"). Medication dramatically limits the chance of these episodes; Bipolar medication is not truly "sedative", it just cuts down the risk. Stopping medication (at least Lithium) does result in a increased chance of an episode - although bear in mind it is not the case that you stop it and the next day you are completely manic/depressed. It usually happens relatively slowly (a week or two) and would normally be some time after stopping.

(How do I know this? I am a consultant psychiatrist).

I would suggest that Hattie has secretly cloned some fungus to provide a mood stabiliser medication. Note that mood stabiliser medication is a terrible name; mood stabilisers do not stabilise your mood. Taking them will still largely allow all sorts of mood and has next to no effect on "normal" mood variation, or even more histrionic mood variations you get in stress or personality disorder. Mood stabilisers simply act to stop you having proper full blown depressed / manic episodes.

Overall I like the idea, although you may want to flesh out the nitty gritty details a bit here?



Seth The only thing I note is that Computer Use is base 01%, giving Seth a total bonus of 41%. I have edited this, hope thats ok. For the sake of being clean, I also deleted his "Thermal Suit" equipment. Everyone has this available freely (see equipment). If you meant something else, please add it back in FInally, not needed on the sheet, but Seth is not "Chipped", I presume (like the rest of the team) - a disadvantage or advantage or both.


All I have made a few tidy ups on the character sheets just to keep it a little clean. Namely, removing obsolete skills (we really wont be needing accounting, credit rating, law, natural history, ride or firearms skills ), and renaming a few things such as Laser Pistol -> Plasma Pistol. I hope this is ok, please let me know if you spot any horrible error! If somehow one of the "deleted" skills gets used (I don't know, maybe you clone a zebra or something) we can always add them back in. But it is vanishingly unlikely.


So bar thrashing out Hatties mental illness I think we are good to go!

Supercape wrote:Ooops accidentally edit rather than quote of your post MrHandy, I am sorry. STill, it is preserved!

That's okay, I made the same mistake last night and accidentally wiped out one of my player's character sheets. Fortunately, he has it written down. I also hit Edit instead of Quote, but I did it to try to see inside a spoiler button with an apostrophe, which keeps it from being openable. Since I was making a new post without actually quoting him, I'd erased everything and started typing.

I've changed computer use to reflect 01% base chance. And taken 10% from repair skill to boost computer use up to 50% as he is meant to be pretty good at hacking. He isn't chipped so will likely die a lingering death lost in a forgotten air vent somewhere.

aine wrote: He isn't chipped so will likely die a lingering death lost in a forgotten air vent somewhere.

He may die, but will he stay dead?

eek!

Supercape, I don't want to overspend points, so I will just reduce my medical skill by 5%. I like your idea of having her sanity decrease over time when she's off her medication. Since the effects of the disorder manifest themselves slowly over a span of weeks, I was thinking that nothing happens the first few days she's off the medication and then in subsequent days she starts taking sanity loss slowly (1 point or a d3) , leading up to the possibility of significant losses on the second week (d6) and on with a critical loss resulting in a manic, depressive or mixed episode. I also think that Hattie should start to experience anxiety, irritability or perhaps some psychosomatic symptoms with every small bit of sanity loss. This could be caused by her condition or it could be caused by her fear of an inevitable episode. I think I will set her starting SAN to about 65.

I like the idea of having some sort of anti-psychotic in the facility (we could call that “Omni-Calm”), but I doubt she would have some sort of brand name for her medication. Maybe, with here background, she can make some other medication in the event that the crew needs it? I would say that on top of making a nameless “mood stabilizer” for herself (iron supplements if anyone asks), she might experiment with stimulants (amphetamine?) or other experimental nootropic drugs of her own design, possibly out of boredom or curiosity.

As far as transporting the ingredients to Titan, I was thinking that she freeze-dried some fungal cultures from her collection before she left the space station and that she had to spend some time reviving them in a small habitat that she has hidden in her quarters. However, she is always on the lookout for more room to cultivate her fungi. Maybe she accidentally (or otherwise) contaminates some vital facility in the complex.

This all sounds good to me. Personally I dont think you need to tie yourself to particular SAN effects. Just do what seems cool and role play it! Feel free to suggest SAN loss at a particular time; or even the use of some of her drugs actually being beneficial.

When you are ready, I will kick off!

For the sake of get the narrative up and running, I am going to suggest that Seth is found by Beta Base on the latest automated shuttle supply, at the same time that Alpha Base goes to investigate a strange geological event. More upcoming.

I'm going to kick this off this weekend. Anybody have any thoughts or suggestions speak up!

My plan is for team Alpha to be called to some geological event on Titan, whilst team Beta pick up the latest cargo drop from nearby, which has also gone of course (presumably from the geological event). Said cargo ship happens to have a stowaway on it...

This does mean that Seth may have to delay a post or two, but it should quickly get him in on the action, at a time of considerable crisis.

Any ideas welcome.

That's fine, Seth can just have a nice doze in his capsule.

Rolling, speed, Action!.... Run away..... aggghhhhhh.... gurgle.

And we are up.

First of an apology for rail roading a bit. I have a habit (it may be a bad habit, I don't know) of a bit of a rush to begin with to contrive a quick exposition and gathering of player characters, alongside presenting a crisis. Roll with me, folks, the stage and narrative will quickly become yours.

So we have Hattie and Sam in the ATV.

Seth is in Module-43. I am going to say he is mildly injured from the crash, 1d6=1 HP damage. Could I also ask Seth to make a luck roll to avoid some other injury according to your preference (a broken finger, a bleeding wound, or extreme nausea) from the ghastly crash landing.

Module-43 was meant to gently land by the colony (a few hundred yards away). Seth noticed it started malfunctioning, and despite his limited efforts to sort it out, we are where we are.

The immediate danger right now is that Module-43 is without an airlock. It is full of oxygen, and Seth has a 5 minute emergency respirator. But opening the door will let in the extreme cold. Seth has clothing, but either it is not fully insulated like an Exosuit or it got torn on the way down. So we start the adventure with a reminder of the pure horrible cold of Titan. I hope this is ok.

The other issue, is that Module-43 has an 02/N2/C02 mix inside (it is atmospherically sealed, at least if it has not been damaged in the crash). As Titan is ethane, methane, and all sorts of other stuff - this is potentially explosive! mind those plasma torches.

NB: The EM Flare (Soft Sci-Fi land here) means that long distance communications are down, and even short distance communications require a successful Communication roll to work. The EM-Flares are basically plot devices - they will happen intermittently.

If Hattie or Sam are using a multiscanner to look at Module-43 (or, with the same effect, the Alpha-ATV's sensors), give me a Sensors / Scanning roll

Knock knock knock...

If you guys want to communicate via morse code (rather out of date), a knowledge roll would be in order!

By leaning the helmet of your spacesuit against a solid object (including the helmet of another spacesuit), you can have a normal conversation or hear any sounds that are being made on the other side. The vibrations carry the sounds right through it. The helmet-to-helmet trick even works in a vacuum (the inside of both helmets still have air).

Well there we go!

I shall leave it to players to have a conversation!

Ok so I presume somebody is going to blow the hatch?

If so, Seth can at least breathe till you get him to the ATV. He will be cold as hell though; its a bracing -190C on Titan (and a nice thick atomsphere to conduct that heat away quickly).

Under such circumstances, Seth needs to make a CONx5 Roll or lose 1D3 Hit Points straight away.

[We should have a few posts to blow the hatch and freeze]

I will presume Hattie and Sam are going to drag him to the ATV almost straight away? If so, they should make a DEXx5% roll to do this (they both can try). If I could ask you to make a couple of rolls; every time neither of you manage to drag him, its more freezy for Seth.

Ok sorry to be behind on this; I have had a nasty flu like virus the past four or five days which has sapped me of energy.

To make sure this keeps moving I am going to make a few rolls; Seth makes his first CON x5 Roll so does not loose HP. It takes a bit longer to drag him into the ATV (due to DEX rolls) so he has to make a CON x4 Roll too: 1d100=17 which he also makes. So no HP loss!

You are now inside the ATV (all three) see IC for details!

Still feeling groggy but will try to post.

Is Wumpus still around to make a post?

Enjoying this, thanks folks.

But; Wumpus seems to be AWOL. No posts since August 1st, and no indication of being away. I think at this time we need to open up discussion about what to do as it is likely he (?She) has gone.

I am happy to take over his character and push her to the background. Or, we can invite someone else to take over the PC or indeed, join in on other parameters.

Or we can give it some time to see if Wumpus returns.

But in any case time to open up the discussion I think. Your thoughts, people?

I think Wumpus has been gone long enough without telling us that we can open up Hattie to whoever's willing to take over the character. You could post in Existing Games Looking for Players to let people know. We've only just started, so it should be no problem for a new player to catch up on what we've done so far. We could also have new players join in as different characters. In the meantime, or if we can't find anyone, you could run Hattie as an NPC.

A good plan. I'm enjoying it too.

So posted.

I don't want to slow the thread down, but I am going to suggest leaving it 48 hours just to see if there is any initial pickings for the third slot. If no one bites after that, I'll take over Hattie, put her in the background, propel onwards, and no doubt give her a grisly end soon!

Sorry for delay on this; it is partially because I have been very busy (And slighty unwell) the last few days, but also because I have had a few bites on more players. I will get to this but if you could bera with me another day that would be appreciated!

No probs; it's the bank holiday anyway!

I've reworked Hattie and I think the maths work out.

She's less of an addict and more of a science boffin.

Welcome aboard and thanks for taking grasp of Hattie.

I'lll let you guys decide the next step!

I am going for a fairly slow and oppressive build up here, but as always, feedback if you have ideas or suggestions.

Hello to all. This is my first game here so I'm a bit green but I'm very much looking forward to new adventures. Looks like I'll be stepping into the shoes of base Physician, Casper Bloom.

Supercape, please take a look at Casper's Investigator sheet and make sure all the numbers look ok. For skills, as Credit Rating has been dropped for this game and there's no real need for Latin, I substituted Library Use and Chemistry as Occupational Skills. Let me know if I goofed and anything is off.

I figure as a Physician, Casper regularly consults his medical reference books and journals. Even though paper hard copies of books may be far outdated at this point in the future, Casper has an affinity for the old fashioned. Hence the Library Use skill. With the Chemistry skill, while pharmacy covers the prescribing of various drugs/medicines and the Medicine skill covers the physical application of the medicine on a subject, I reason with Chemistry that this not only gives the user a physical understanding of the various chemicals,compounds and substances that make up medicines but also better allows analysis of various samples, coming up with new medicines when improvisation may be needed and any tests that may be needed to perform on the staff. That sort of overlaps with Biology a bit, but at least with Chemistry, Casper can possibly develop some devious poisons or explosives if the need comes up .

Don't hesitate if you think this doesn't fit or make sense. I'm open to criticism and any other ideas.

Character Name: Casper Bloom
Age: 45
Mission Role: Physician
Mission Time (Months): 5 months


STR: 8
CON: 12
SIZ: 9
INT: 16 Idea: 80
POW: 14 Luck: 70
DEX: 15
APP: 13
EDU: 17 Know: 85

Damage Bonus: 0

Hit Points: 11

Magic Points: 14

Maximum Sanity: 99

Current Sanity: 70

Background:

Although fairly diminutive in stature and build, What Casper lacks in strength and size he more that makes up for with his suave handsome looks and intelligence. Hailing from Providence, Rhode Island, Casper earned his medical degrees from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, the city he still calls home when back on Earth. Particularly skilled with his hands as well as his mind, he can usually read those around him like an open book thanks to his extensive psychological background. With a calming, passive personality, he can put his patients' and crewmates' minds at ease effortlessly in times of stress and trouble. Among some of his less finer qualities, he has a tendency to procrastinate just a tad which can occasionally put him in a bad spot but which he usually manages to escape with what seems like ease. And being this far from home and in such a dangerous environment, he has no current access to one of his nastier habits of which he knows and accepts, fine tobacco cigarettes. This can leave him somewhat irritable at times and helps contribute to his occasional bouts of procrastination. Casper has a bit of an old soul so he favors many old fashioned items, styles and techniques.


Skills:
OCCUPATIONAL Skills in Bold, Personal Interests in Italics

Anthropology (01%)-
Archaeology (01%)-
Art (05%)-
Astronomy (01%)-
Biology (01%)- 31%
Chemistry (01%)- 26%
Climb (40%)-
Communications (20%)- 40%
Computer Use (01%)- 21%
Conceal (15%)-
Craft (05%)-
Cthulhu Mythos (00%)-
Disguise (01%)-
Dodge (DEX x 2=30%)-
Drive ATV (20%)- 45%
Electrical/Mechanical Repair (10%)- 20%
Electronics (01%)-
Fast Talk (05%)-
First Aid (30%)- 65%
Geology (01%)-
Hide (10%)-
History (20%)-
Jump (25%)- 45%
Library Use (25%)- 35%
Listen (25%)-
Locksmith (01%)-
Martial Arts (01%)-
Medicine (05%)- 70%
Navigate (10%)-
Occult (05%)-
Op Heavy Machinery (01%)-
Own Language: English (90%)-
Persuade (15%)- 35%
Pharmacy (01%)- 51%
Photography (10%)-
Physics (01%)-
Pilot T-Prop (01%)-
Pilot Starship (01%)-
Psychoanalysis (01%)- 61%
Psychology (05%)- 70%
Scanning (20%)- 30%
Sneak (10%)-
Spot Hidden (25%)- 35%
Swim (25%)-
Throw (25%)-
Track (10%)-

Melee:

Fist/Punch (50%)-
Grapple (25%)-
Head (10%)-
Kick (25%)-
Knife (25%)- 50%

Weapon Skills:

Plasma Pistol (30%)-

Equipment:

Multiscanner
Multitool
Old Fashioned Doctor's Kit containing some antique instruments: Scalpel (1d4)
A Small Selection of Antique Medical Reference Books From Casper's Personal Library

All adds up to me!

A few suggestions:

Smoking might have to be modified. Titan rains petrochemicals. Whilst the bases do of course filter out petrochemicals in their airlocks, I would have thought smoking would be an undue risk... I'm open to suggestion on that of course. One other issue would be how he actually gets his cigarrettes. I doubt they would be approved for regular transport to Titan (for safety concerns and ultimately for weight concerns, everything in space travel is stripped back) but he could be cultivating his own plants in the hydroponics dome maybe.

His pharmacy skill is probably unduly low for a top class medic on a base. Again, I don't object but a 50%+ skill would be warranted normally I think. Thats just a gut opinion though, I certainly won't object.

Id suggest something on the lines of alongside the standard High tech medkit, he keeps an old fashioned doctors kit (with the trusty scalpel, Damage 1D4 small knife).

Overall though this looks like a cool character, I hope he can jump in imminently!

Supercape wrote:All adds up to me!

A few suggestions:

Smoking might have to be modified. Titan rains petrochemicals. Whilst the bases do of course filter out petrochemicals in their airlocks, I would have thought smoking would be an undue risk... I'm open to suggestion on that of course. One other issue would be how he actually gets his cigarrettes. I doubt they would be approved for regular transport to Titan (for safety concerns and ultimately for weight concerns, everything in space travel is stripped back) but he could be cultivating his own plants in the hydroponics dome maybe.

His pharmacy skill is probably unduly low for a top class medic on a base. Again, I don't object but a 50%+ skill would be warranted normally I think. Thats just a gut opinion though, I certainly won't object.

Id suggest something on the lines of alongside the standard High tech medkit, he keeps an old fashioned doctors kit (with the trusty scalpel, Damage 1D4 small knife).

Overall though this looks like a cool character, I hope he can jump in imminently!

Got it. That all sounds fine to me. My thinking on the cigarettes was that Casper only smokes in his own quarters and, as long as he has consent, in the community area. He only brought 4 cartons of cigarettes from Earth. With 10 packs of cigarettes in each carton that would give him a total 40 packs that he smokes sparingly, in times of undo stress and what have you. But what's funny is I was also thinking of giving him an old fashioned doctor's kit rather than the whole cigarettes thing. He keeps this as one his sort of prized possessions and still uses it. So I'll go ahead and re-work that pharm stat and I think I'll make that change from the cigarettes to the doctor's kit. I'll post as soon as I get the changes done. Let me know if you think of anything else. And thanks for the suggestions.

All works for me. Let me know when you are ready and Ill post PC in thread and you can jump into IC and OOC threads!

Id personally suggest shaving off some plasma pistol skill; its not so much a combat thread, and you would probably need some military type background to be skilled in it. But of course its entirely your call.

If you haven't already, give the other threads a scan. No need to study, just skim so you orientate yourself. Bloom has made one fuzzy communnictaion over the radio so have a look at that.

You also get some privvy information

Ok, I edited the post with Casper's character info. Take a look and see what you think. I shaved a few points from a couple other OCC skills to boost pharm to 51%. I dropped the points on the plasma pistol and put them into persuade. And

I edited his background to appropriately reflect the lack of access to tobacco products at the base while giving Casper his antique doctor's kit.

Looks great to me.

Ill presume Dr Blooms old fashioned Medical Kit also contains some advanced drugs / healing equipment (and thus, according to rules for this thread, can heal 1D6 rather than 1D3 Hitpoints).

Feel free to add in something like "Carefully smuggled cache of 10 finest cigarrettes for emergencies" or something!

Ill put the sheet up in CHaracter thread, and...I think you may be up immienently in IC!

Also throw me that psychology roll!

Psychology Roll for Dr Casper Bloom Finally a reminder; every character bar Seth (Bob Dylan) Hazard is "chipped", a small thing inserted in their forearm. This acts as a short wave transmitter and monitors a few vital life signs. Aside from its use in tracking people, it could also be used as an emergency communicator (for a few minutes, limited range) if you don't mind speaking to your forearm.

Carving the chip out is entirely possible if you have a knife or the like. It costs 1 HP if you make a medicine roll, or 1D3 HP if you fail a medicine roll (may be bonuses or penalties to that roll depending on if you are carving it out of your own arm, painkillers, not having a good sharp knife etc). I'm not sure anybody would want to do that (yet), but its there for you! I suppose it might also be possible to implant a chip in Seth if you guys wish.

Just a heads up for that!

Did we lose the good doctor already?

It may be...

Hasnt replied to my PMs for three days.

I suggest giving this 24 hours and then pressing forward, although I am more than open to suggestion.

What about NPC-ing him until his player shows up, and if he doesn't, there's no harm done and the show can go on.

Ill do that if no show by tomorrow?

Although, frankly, having two new players join this thread and promptly disappear without a word has made my patience extremely thin!

NPCing him sounds like the best move. He was an NPC to begin with anyway.

We can do a mini-break at this juncture if you wish for repairs, medical check over etc.

For Sam to stabilise the reactor needs a repair roll; its 98-99% functional. Sam can of course repair it fully, the roll it to see if she can repair it in a few mimutes rather than needing an hour or two (I presume there is a clock ticking).

Aine, Seth I imagine will be clean on medical check up but if you want to add anything for flavour, please do so.

MrHandy, T Prop can be up and running!

Hattie will have proposed to dub the T-Prop of Beta base "Sagan I".

Is there any possibility of us hailing Drake?

DrPeterson wrote:Hattie will have proposed to dub the T-Prop of Beta base "Sagan I".

Is there any possibility of us hailing Drake?

Sagan it is!

You can certainly try hailing Drake. Unfortunately, no answer (spoooooky....)

Just a heads up: I've just booked a holiday from Sept 20th to Oct 11th and I doubt I'll be able to get online easily. Supercape, will you be able to npc Seth? Or incarcerate him somewhere but I'd rather he carried on the fun. Sorry about the timing but it's been due two years! I'm loving the game by the way.

Whereareyougoing?Whereareyougoing?Whereareyougoing?Whereareyougoing?Whereareyougoing?Whereareyougoing?

aine wrote:Just a heads up: I've just booked a holiday from Sept 20th to Oct 11th and I doubt I'll be able to get online easily. Supercape, will you be able to npc Seth? Or incarcerate him somewhere but I'd rather he carried on the fun. Sorry about the timing but it's been due two years! I'm loving the game by the way.

Of course (and enjoy your holiday).

What I will try to do is keep the camera off Seth. If need by, Ill make brief posts ~ if I have to ~ to keep it going. If you do have any ideas, or do get online whilst on holiday, please chip in! I presume you will pick him on return from your much deserved break!

Glad you enjoy!

PS If Seth is fiddling with the reactor (And the others let him!) please make a repair roll. As noted above, you can easily fix it, the question is if you can give it a knowing tap with your elbow and get the glitch out, or need an hour or two for full diagnostic run etc etc.

haha! Flights to Jakarta and then....?? Sulawesi or Flores maybe. So much there it's hard to choose. Nice though!

I'll be back to pick up the pieces on Titan.

Officially jealous. I'd love to see Flores and go hunting for the little people!

Enjoy and mind where you sit.

Right I think we are heading towards a scene cut to Alpha base?

T-Prop flying duties by I guess Hattie; its a little bumpy ride but not going to be calling for any skill rolls.

No rush to scene cut but putting it out there; if so, my want to say or narrate how you are doing the flight and what you are bringing with you. I will presume Seth, Hattie, and Sam will go. You might have to persuade Dr Bloom to come with you; up to you guys.

of course if you have any other ideas about what to do, please sing out!

Presuming you are searching, please feel free to make spot hidden rolls, and, if you wish to examine Buddy, a Repair roll.

The lighting here is a little poor, but feel free to light some emergency chemical flares or something.

NB: On the principle that Titan is Dark and Hazy in nature, there may be penalties to spot hidden or other rolls due to visibility, so do feel free to play up that aspect in IC posts, and also any attempts to improve matters. Broadly speaking a multi-tool can function as a reasonable spot-torch, but you do have a couple of emergency flares e.g. in vehicles and so on. In addition your Exo-suit has Light Intensifier and IV goggles, but of course this is not fool-proof! Seth of course has a more powerful torch with him. For now, no penalties.

Booby Trap Spotted! (by Hattie and Sam)

Pal's data core can be downloaded with that Electronics skill by Hattie, so keep hold of that.

However, the booby trap does need disarming. Again, there is a time issue: with the right tools, lighting and plenty of time there is an almost certainty (99%) that one of you can disarm it, being very methodical, slow, and so on.

Manually disarming more quickly would be a DEXx5% roll to do safely. Its not so much technically difficult but fiddly. You might have other ideas or clever brainwaves to disarm which would boost the roll or succeed (and may need an Idea roll). Of course, you may just want to press on.

Would Hattie know if the foam gun solution would do to neutralise the reaction of the trap?

Chemistry roll to make sure!

You could still proceed with uncertainty down that path, of course!

Just to build on Aine post, you have a "Drug-Gun", essentially a palm sized device that administers drugs quickly. If you want to use it offensively, ill say it is a 25% base skill, or you can use it after a successful grapple. Note the Med-"gun" is actually unranged, its just a drug dispenser (although no doubt you could do some clever modifications to make it function as a short range projectile thing).

Omnicalm, if used with a pharmacy roll, can stop temporary insanity with minimal sedative effects (-5% to everything). If used as a knockout or with a failed pharmacy roll its CONx5% to avoid falling unconscious, or failing that you are highly sedated (-20% to everything), aswell as temporary insanity cured. Omnicalm is also potentially addictive.

[Off the top of my head rules please suggest otherwise!]

You are of course welcome to scream, shout, and dance, but I left the IC post vague with the presumption you were not making any undue sound.

On that note, listen rolls

Depends on what you'd call undue


I've a question on skill checks. Do we check the skill checks we pass, and see if we can increase them in between chapters?

I would suggest so yes.

I plan for only 2 or 3 chapters. If people feel sufficiently infused the setting can go on but of course insanity and death

Quick query / roll; if Seth is hiding from the advancing Drake, could I have a hide roll!

So Victor is obviously in very bad shape. You can roll first aid if you wish, you might get him semi-conscious by doing so, but he will still need major medical aid, and that means Beta Infirmary.

So a rather forced choice on you guys, sorry, but hope it serves it purpose.

Judging Ron, you are pretty sure that a) he won't shoot you, and b) he will stay behind to 'deal' with the madman in the reactor, and that it may well be a very violent, terminal "deal".

Knowing him as you do, you can also be pretty sure his mind is made up on the matter and he won't budge. It is a combination of his military training, with a peppering of self-preservation (or, if you wish, cowardly fear).

"Splitting the party" is totally fine; it does leave me in a position of what to do with Seth. Part of me says just wait till aine comes back but it is two weeks and she did say take Seth over.

Any ideas / thoughts? Follow one, or the other, or something else?

We could just assume that Seth keeps lurking in the shadows, either following Sam and Ron, or exploring the base on his own. If anything should come up where he'd come in handy, you could just let him appear.

I was thinking he would help Hattie get Victor back to Beta, but he might want to stick around.

Gimme a bit to stew on this one; I want to consider it! I am inclined at this juncture for Seth to tail Ron and Sam, but I am finding it a tough call both from a "what would Seth do" and a "what would be best for the story" perspective...

Sorry for delay on this.

Essentially I am caught with what to do with Seth; unless people object, I will propose we just wait the next 5 days till aine gets back?

Sorry for disruption.

I'm fine with waiting. She's missing from my game too, but there she can simply stay put if she does nothing.

No worries, I'm glad for the delay, really.

And we are back on; threads now split temporarily.

The ventilation ducts are suitable for SIZ 10 or below to move through reasonably easy. At higher SIZ you would be squeezing and quite limited, up to SIZ 15 maximum.

Thanks for waiting chaps! I'm back and raring to go.

Welcome back, dear!

Yes, welcome back!

Are we allowed to read each other's threads, or should we stay out of them?

And welcome back as well!

I am normally of the opinion that is players choice! I trust you not to metagame.

Ultimately you may feel that you would prefer to be kept in the dark for your own suspense, or you may feel it helps your engagement with the whole thing and aides crafting a better story. Your call!

If there is anything I judge absolutely should be the providence of just one player / character I will use pm!

ok so apologies for getting all Western / Pulp / Mexican Standoff for a moment...

Seth gets a DEXx5% chance of getting the first shot off. Otherwise its Drake.

Aine, if you could roll the DEXx5% and a Plasma Pistol skill shot; its not quite point blank range but I will allow a +10% chance to hit for relatively short range (making Seths chance 70%).

On a miss, could you throw me a luck roll; inevitably something will get damaged if you miss, but a luck roll will mean its relatively minor (and you can repair it even if it causes power loss), whilst a poor luck roll means boom - type action (not lethal, but something like an electric discharge or fire or getting sprayed with Scifinium gas).

MrHandy/Sam: You will certainly hear plasma fire. Make a listen roll to hear the conversation just prior to / after the shot (whatever Seth or Drake say in the IC thread). Your assumption might be of course that the plasma fire is from George Long.

Jeez, guys, we're having all sorts of lifesaving adventures and you're in a scrap.
Warmongers

On that note, as blood transfusions take a few minutes ++, anything Hattie would want to do whilst hooked up with tubes?

Close her eyes and think of England?

No, nothing that she'd be able to do hooked up to a tube.

So unless the doc is going to stab her in the skull, I don't mind fastforwarding half an hour.

It wasn't me! I wasn't even there!

I promise this is not my usual style - especially so soon in a game too!

Invisible Castle isn't working for me so I've dusted off the dice and got 78 for dex and 38 for plasma pistol, which is a hit I think. Supercape, could you roll damage for me as I don't know the amount?

Seth tips the brim of his sombrero just a bit and chews off the end of his cigar.

Yeah IC is down so Im rolling the real stuff: I got 12 Damage. Fortunately Ron has 15 HP (he is a big fit ex-military man). Still, I'm going to say that knocks him unconscious for the purposes of the thread. Plus all the normal narrative about severely injured with burns and needing medical attention.

NB: Struck me that whilst Seth is a pretty hardened fellow he just watch a man burn half to death by his own hand, and the wrong man at that. I think that warrants a 0/1D3 SAN check!

So we appear to have made a mistake in continuity about Seth having access to a plasma pistol. It is in fact a conversation I had with Aine over pm before the shooting.

I'll take my share of the "blame" for not double checking, but on the other hand the deed is done and this is a game, not a blame-game. I am highly disinclined to rewind over the mistake, partly because of momentum but mainly because (to my mind) the transpirations have been great fun!

If anyone has some view or idea how to address this, please chip in. My view is that continuity is of minimal importance other than that required for a reasonable suspension of disbelief - in other words, we do a sticky-plaster retcon that Hattie did not take her pistol.

I concur, it's more dramatic this way.

I'll edit the post, so it'll appear like nothing happened

Yeah, we can always say that Hattie decided to leave her plasma pistol behind for Seth after all.

Sorry, my fault for reading incorrectly. I thought Hattie had kicked her gun over for Seth to pick up and only Sam retrieved hers. If you like, have Seth's gun now break so he can't use it again, and have Hattie pick up one in the infirmary. Then it's only poor old Ron who really suffers.

Thanks for going with the flow chaps. Lets go with keeping the Gun functional. You may need it, and besides, I was actually quite gripped by the whole story so far! its worked out v well!

You may of course make the usual first aid rolls to aide Ronald, possibly awakening him to a world of pain. Feel free to narrate getting an emergency medkit as you see fit.

I am also going to ask for [again] listen rolls please.

Sorry for the delay folks, I had a super busy last week at work - busy because now I am on leave for a week, and much needed (after busy work and fighting off various infections going round work and leaving me drained). The mojo was sapped.

Should be back to normal posting now!

On that note, Ron is in a lot of pain. You may wish to administer a painkiller, and if so, you may wish to make a pharmacy roll! For that you can choose:

Pain relief: The Pain subsides but does not go - Ron will only be mildly impaired.
Sedated: Pain obliterated but Ron is impaired and may mumble and be disorientated.
Asleep: Blissfully unconscious / asleep.
Knockout: He takes so much he will be deeply unconscious and completely out. Potentially but dangerous.
Lethal: Stops breathing

If you wish to administer a painkiller, please choose what you are aiming for and make a Pharmacy roll. Failure means you "miss".


Of course any other actions or ideas or plans, go for it!

Hahaha, how I love spouting sci-fi nonsense

Yeah, technobabble is fun! I really enjoyed spouting it playing Stephanie Bridges in Zombie Apocalypse.

So immediate crisis is now over...pausing for a moment.

What would you like to do? I would suggest a scene cut back to Beta Base Infirmary with the three unconscious bodies, Doctor Bloom working flat out to help Ronald Drake, and the PCs deciding what to do?

As always, open to suggestion - we are moving into PCs being proactive rather than reactive I think.

I'm up for scuttling straight back to Beta. Could do with a cup of tea.

Sounds good, I'm back home from tomorrow evening, so I'll be more active then.

Sounds good to me too.

And so it will be...!

Keep the discussion going guys, I am loving it and wont interfere till you guys settle on a plan!

Are we ready for a scene cut / chapter cut to the earthquake (or Titanquake?)

I'm ready to move forward.

Do your worst!

Let's rock!

So sorry I have been AWOL last week. I had a severe renal infection that had me high as a kite with fever for a few days, followed by a few days of feeling totally wiped out from the infection and the antibiotics (and the predictable rear end explosions that antibiotics can cause). I'm still a bit pooped and these things can drain you for a while afterwards, but I should be able to do at least some postage!

So I will hopefully start Chapter 2 at this juncture. I am open to thoughts about whether we should do skill increase checks (i.e. what would feel most enjoyable?)

'A bit pooped'! What an understatement! Sounds utterly miserable. Glad you're on the mend. My feeling is that our characters' days are numbered so we might as well enjoy the skill checks now.

I'm glad you're starting to do better too.

I like rolling for skill increases as well. In my games, I usually do it at the end of each chapter. However, with my Doctor Who/Call of Cthulhu campaign, each story is divided into episodes, which are much shorter than a full chapter, so I don't have skill increases at the end of each episode there, only at the end of each story.

Then skill rolls we shall have!

I have not kept good track, and ic being down doesnt help, but I make it... (and if you have a better grasp of what rolls you made, please correct me, I trust you...)


Sam

Communications, Spot Hidden, First Aid, Listen, Repair

Seth

Plasma Pistol, Listen, Hide, First Aid, Sneak, Dodge, Medical Injector (or whatever you want to call it, Weapon Base Skill 25%)

Hattie

Communications, Spot Hidden, Electronics




Please make the rolls and I will start up Chapter 2; I will propose this is set a few hours later (so you can mend reactors and do a few repairs, and Hattie recovers from her blood loss). I guess it starts with the three of you in an ATV, whilst Doctor Bloom is back at base sedating all his crazy patients? Feel free to add anything extra in or any other actions you might take over the hour or two.

Sounds like a good starting point to kick off the next chapter, no further suggestions here.
Good luck with the recovery, mate!

Communications 50%,[dice]0[/dice]

Spot Hidden 25%,[dice]1[/dice]

Electronics 55%,[dice]2[/dice]

Spot Hidden increase,[dice]3[/dice]

I believe I also got a success in Scanning at the beginning, when I scanned the supply module.

Thanks for correction, please roll away!

Seth rolled:

Plasma Pistol (50%): 50, Listen (35%): 89, Hide (50%):63, First Aid(40%):29, Sneak(50%):64, Dodge (34%): 98, Medical Injector (25%):52

(Plasma pistol: is it over or including the original value?)

1d10 rolls and new totals:
(Plasma Pistol 10: 60,) Listen 1: 36, Hide 9: 59, Sneak7 :57, Dodge 10: 44, Medical Injector 2:27

Unfortunately, higher [p53 rulebook I had to check!)

If you could adjust sheets Ill get Chapter 2 started in next day or two!

Communications (55% skill) XP check:
[dice]0[/dice]
First Aid (30% base skill) XP check:
[dice]1[/dice]
Listen (25% base skill) XP check:
[dice]2[/dice]
Repair (60% skill) XP check:
[dice]3[/dice]
Scanning (50% skill) XP check:
[dice]4[/dice]
Spot HIdden(55% skill) XP check:
[dice]5[/dice]
Listen increase from 25:
[dice]6[/dice]
Scanning increase from 50:
[dice]7[/dice]
Spot Hidden increase from 55:
[dice]8[/dice]

Thanks Guys; if I could ask you all to update your sheets!

And chapter 2 is up!

Im presuming you prepared for this with stowing at least a modicum of survey gear and scientific instruments, alongside your normal equipment, plasma pistols, multi tools, and multiscanners. Plus the ATV will have back up suits, rations, first aid kit, and so on. Basically you are likely to have whatever you need (if its really obscure I might call for an idea or luck roll). Of course if there is anything else you specifically wanted to bring (like a medical injector loaded with sedatives which Seth might want!) please note it here or IC (or ideally both).

For now you are approaching the geological epicentre of the crash. Please commence the witty banter. You may wish to make scanning or appropriate sciences (particularly Geology, but arguably others too) depending on what you fancy!

I'm definitely taking an injector loaded with sedatives.

Those sedatives could come in handy


I hope you don't mind having selected a madness for Hattie, Supercape. I can still edit if you so desire.

Good by me! I (usually) prefer players just choosing something than rolling - and it works great!

OK so its alien encounter time.

FIrst off, as Multiscanners are out there is a chance you pick up some very odd readings - you won't be able to interpret them right now, but if you could make the rolls anyway they may be pertinent anywhere (Scanning Roll). Please feel free to narrate some sci-fi nonsense to represent picking up some very subtle pattern (e.g. Hmm I'm picking up triphasic waves in the electro-quantum realm...)

Then, Spot hidden rolls. If you do make them...
The spot hidden roll is basically to notice something visual approaching before it is ? too late ?

Oh bother

There's maths for you.
I'll edit my post. Hang on.

Just realised I didn't roll sanity for seeing "Aliens in brief flash of lightning"
Roll sanity (70): 33 %

It's all just too exciting!

Dum dum daaaaaaah!

Did Hattie get in then?
I'm confused

I think we can say that!

I'm unexpectedly away till tomorrow evening, guys and girl.

Sorry for the erratic posting, but last week of the semester has been rather hellish.

Hattie didn't roll for sanity yet either.
Here goes...

Sanity 65,[dice]0[/dice]

I'm in deepest darkest Cornwall for Christmas so Internet and posting will be a tad more sporadic than normal.

Scene cut back to base? (if so, which one! )

Yes, and that's Beta Base, where we left Dr. Bloom and the crazies. I don't see any reason to go to Alpha at the moment.

Yeah, Beta sounds good. Surely those aliens won't be able to follow us

That thought occurred to me too, but there's not really much we can do about it. Even if we took a roundabout route, they could still easily follow our tracks. It's better to get back there faster. Besides, they probably already know where the bases are if they can fly around.

And we're in a bit of a panic, so the choice is quickly made

Sorry for the last post blatant plot - pointer! To fluff that up, you geniuses can pretty much work out the pattern of air/temperature loss from the readouts being given - the outer airlock door is slowly losing integrity and the pattern of loss is pretty clearly some kind of erosion (i.e. parabolic)...

An anti-acid / alkali / chemical solution? Easy!

Getting it up in time may not be so easy!

Can you throw me an idea roll to remember how / where to get some of said chemical on base? Feel free to narrate exactly where it is or how you get it.

If that fails (or indeed succeeds), you can roll a chemistry skill - a success means you can synthesise a customised antidote to the chemical which will be much more effective.

Failure on both counts means you can get some alkaline and rush to the door, but it will be too late....

Any other plans, feel free to sing out!

Sorry for my misunderstandings!

Mr Handy's note:

My plan was for us to open the outer airlock door with the inner door sealed, then spray their weapon with ours, thus destroying their weapon. After that, we can seal the outer hatch again.

This looks good, but if the inner door sealed how would you spray their weapon? Apologies if I am being dense. Or are you saying you go (in exo suits) into the airlock, then seal the inner door behind you, open the outdoor door - whoosh of your weapon, close the outer door, and then re enter the base? (if all goes well).

Yes, that's exactly what I was saying. That's why I said to suit up before we went into the airlock.

So edited / deleted / tidied up etc !

So you have some time on your side - at least, you think you do!

Stage is yours! Repairs? Preparations? Waking up the injured? Going back out there? Basket Weaving?

Dr. Bloom should wake up Drake so someone can talk to him. I'd like to try again to get a message through to Earth.

I'd like to do some crosswords, please.


Talking to Drake seems like a priority, just like getting our comms through. Having a look at the alien tech could prove useful too.

I'm just gonna lose myself in a bottle. And then sort out that aerial to get the comms through; whatever it takes. I'm good at both of them. Not so good with personnel so will leave Drake and co to the indubitable Hattie!

Cool stuff, please post to that effect!

At this point, whilst the EM storm is still active, its a little ablated, and with time you can get a message through; I'll ask for a communication roll for whoever sends the message - a fail means the message might be a little distorted and missing one or two key facts, but the bulk of it will get through.

If Seth wants to get drunk, feel free to! He can also climb outside to try and boost the signal of the communications dish Muahahaha! Foolhardy! Not quite sure what skill to use for that; ill just default to Electrical / Mechanical Repair if thats ok. It will cost you some reserve power to do so, however, so bear in mind if done your generators won't have any more spare juice. If you can boost the dish, Ill say thats a +25% to communications rolls at base (at least sending them, receiving is still normal!).

Also if any one feels like a first aid attempt on Hatties Frostbite, please go ahead! Otherwise Dr Bloom will (And arguably he is better qualified!)

DrPeterson wrote:I'd like to do some crosswords, please.

7 Letters, Starts with C: Enormous ancient God slumbering in forgotten submarine city.

I'll be on one or more mountains in Ireland till the 14th, so I probably won't be able to post.
Supercape, feel free to NPC Hattie.

Will do, although 14th is not that far away, so at most it will be 1 or 2 "filler" posts!

Enjoy!

"Enjoy"

Dr. P. You'll be suffering a little from rain then. Just the odd spot, I imagine.

COmmander Hattie takes charge!

If you are following her orders:

Making a projection yield of the explosion is fairly easy for Sam. She can certainly work out how to - or not how to - blow up TItan. A physics roll will give precise calculations. A failed physics roll will still give her a rough estimate, but only a rough one.

Seth Dylan can modify the multisensors to different frequencies improving Mi-Go detection, based on the limited data readings you have. Probably best to use an electronics roll to actually modify them successfully.

A CAT scan of Rons brain is easy enough to do. It will look normal. A medicine roll to look for fine detail please!

Library use to search for files regarding telepathy or ESP with the help of Boss.Dr Bloom will roll [dice]0[/dice]
And not find anything particularly helpful.

I'm off to the East Coast (England) and the Big Smoke for a week; I don't know if I'll be able to post or not.

Back after a horribly long delay (due to horribly busy work...)

Welcome back!

SAN roll for Bloom: [dice]0[/dice] so looses 1 SAN

Sorry, I meant the comms module that Seth is returning to _where they were trying to send a signal- not the command module. Unless the interior doors are all in lock down in which case he has a choice of staying in the hanger... or heading outside...

I think Hatties last command was to seal everything? But maybe DrPeterson could elucidate?

Yeah, Hattie may have accidentally told Boss to seal off everything...
But I'm sure Seth has plenty of skills to get out

Dummm dummm daaaaaah!

You ok to work with that, aine?

I don't mind changing my post a bit, it would be shitty for aine to get stuck there.

No, no, that's cool. Garage fun.

Aine, if you have any ideas about where to go with Seth or how I can help get him back in the thick of it...?

Seth's heading outside...

I think to keep Seth in the action, a narrative wave of the rules. Seth can bypass a door given his background. I shall interpret the failed repair roll as meaning door / airlock jammed afterwards, but in fairness I think its best to say Seth can join the others!

I've just watched The Martian. Which really helps with visualisation for Titan.

It does indeed! Just more dark!

Supercape, Does Seth hear the radio call in his suit, would he know which dome to approach from the outside? If not,can you randomly decide which module he attempts to enter or maybe something else happens whilst he is outside...

I think for the purposes of narrative, lets have Seth hear the call? Probably best to get everyone together again.

Ok to keep this going, ill do a slightly clumsy scene cut to the Infirmary.

Aine - please narrate however you wish for Seth to come back in - best to get us all together once more. i'll suggest its one of those points that narrative consistency may have to be sacrificed a little in order to play a game!

Sorry about the delay, guys and girl, I was in Normandy.

Sorry about the delay myself, I have been very run down last week due to stuff, stuff, and other stuff.

So; going to pause a few days here - I think the consensus (and not an unreasonable one!) is to RUN! which is fine.

Broadly speaking what are peoples views on the next chapter?

Thrilling escape off-Titan in the cold reaches of space?
Battling aliens (and worse) on Titan to get to the Ship?
More social / interaction (not necessarily conflict) with the Mi-Go (involving their discovered underground city)?
Bending the narrative a bit more to mysticism / magic / horrible summonings and banishments?

And finally, if you do make the escape without being transformed into a brain-in-a-jar, what then? What is earths response? I kind of imagine they would send a reinforcement ship, which might even meet you half way, turn you around, and force you to go back to Titan (this time with Plasma Rifles instead of pistols?) Is there a follow up thread - and would you be interested in one? (Alien and Aliens spring to mind, so the follow up thread would have to be called Titanic Horrors....)

No need to answer straight away, just sounding you out for thoughts.

You should probably surprise us about what exactly comes next. With the Mi-Go, it seems like it should have a more science-fiction flavor, with any "magic" being of the sufficiently advanced technology form. I'd be interested in a followup where we return to Titan in force along the lines of Aliens. If Earth got our message, they're definitely going to do something about it. If I know my humans, the response will be violent and brutal. Of course, there will need to be a reason why we don't just "nuke the site from orbit" and actually land on Titan.

I concur with Mr Handy for the most part.
A motive for landing could be recovery of alien tech, knowing our corrupt (futuristic) corporation run governments, that would be the only reason they'd need.


And I'm thinking having Hattie go with the Mi-Go to distract them long enough for the others to escape.

Although Seth just wants to get off this scary ball of dirt and go somewhere nice and quiet; he's likely to be drafted in as an 'expert' by the Human corporations to be part of the return task force. They'd have their hands full with his anti-establishment-tarismismimsm.